(Top)The ash-toned cabinetry and generous headroom give the roomy interior a light and airy feel.(Middle)Powered by twin MerCruisers, the deep-V hull comes up ona plane quickly and smoothly.(Bottom) The sporty console has a nonglare surface and lots of room for extra electronics Compartments in the transom are perfect for stowing bulky items like life rings, hoses, fenders and lines, as well as the electrical hook-up cable.

On a recent hazy summer afternoon, we opened up past the no-wake-zone marker off Fort McHenry. With the twin 7.4 liter MerCruisers, the Maxum 3500 accelerated smoothly and came right up onto plane, reaching a top speed of about 32 knots and maneuvering readily through the open waters of Baltimore's outer harbor.

The joy of cruising along the Baltimore waterfront with the fascination of the tugs, the freighters and cruise ships, the Oz-like skyline in the background and the grassy knolls of the historic fort in the foreground, was inspiring. If Francis Scott Key had been on a Maxum instead of being held prisoner on a British brig, he could have zoomed through the bursting bombs that very night and seen for himself if the fort still held. Instead, he had to wait till dawn's early light.

The Maxum 3500 not only acts sporty, it looks sporty. The radar arch sweeps jauntily forward, providing support for the canvas enclosure as well as recessed lighting and stereo speakers. The sporty helm station has an adjustable steering wheel and the non-glare dash has room for electronics. Classic, chrome-rimmed, analog dials are set into a stylishly simulated, curly-maple panel. The double-wide helm seat is adjustable and has storage underneath. The center panel of the windshield opens to let you step up onto the bow using footholds conveniently molded into the console. There's a removable sun lounge on the bow for tanning while at anchor.

The Maxum 3500 has a lot of room below. The generous 12' 2' beam helps. There's plenty of headroom throughout the main cabin, and the light, ash-toned cabinetry, light, leather-like upholstery, overhead hatches and opening, eye-shaped portlights augment the open feel.

The roomy berth set across the bow can be curtained off fora modicum of privacy. A C-shaped settee converts to a second berth. The galley station in the corner has a useful amount of counter space with room for a stainless-steel sink, a two-burner electric stove with an under-the-counter fridge and a microwave built into the cabinets above.

The head is roomy and a curtain turns it into a shower stall. The standard toilet is a manual flush, but a Vacuflush head is available as an option. The vanity cabinet has a molded-in sink with stowage underneath. A nice feature is the private aft cabin that has lots of hanging locker and storage space, twin berths that convert to a double with spacers, and even its own built-in comfy chair. The berth space is tucked neatly underneath the cockpit, so you do have to duck to put yourself to bed, but it's not at all claustrophobic as this arrangement can be on other boats. The cabin has its own opening port, which allows for both light and air.

The wide swim platform is an integral element of the hull, and could easily accommodate an inflatable tender, or even a hard-shell dinghy. There are two large, upright storage compartments built into the transom, with room enough for fenders, electrical hook-up cable and other gear. There's a recessed swim ladder and a hand-held shower to rinse off afterwards. The cockpit features a wraparound settee that converts to a sun lounge, plus a removable cocktail table, and a wet bar with room for an optional fridge or icemaker. The cockpit sole lifts up hydraulically to reveal the engine compartment.

There's a choice of gas or diesel engines. The Yacht Center provided the one we tried out in Baltimore Harbor. It was powered by twin 7.4 liter MPI MerCruiser gas inboards with V-Drives, rated at 310 HP. The factory specs indicate a fuel consumption rate of just under 30 gallons per hour running at a cruising speed of just over 22 knots. With a wide-open throttle, running at about 32 knots, you can expect to burn about 49 gallons per hour. Maximum cruising range would be about 188 miles.

You can also get twin 8.2 liter MPI MerCruiser 400 HP, or twin 454 Magnum MPI MerCruiser Horizon 380 HP gas inboards. Performance figures on these options weren't available when this edition went to press. The diesel option is a pair of 250 HP Cummins inboards with V-Drive. The manufacturer estimates a fuel consumption rate of about 22 gallons per hour at a cruising speed of 25 knots, and an economical 26 gallons per hour at a maximum speed of just under 29 knots. Cruising range is estimated at 278 miles.